Winning photo on brochure cover

Earlier this year, photo entries were submitted to the RSU 5 Recreation & Community Education Department for a chance to be selected as the cover photo for the fall brochure. Alec Salisbury’s photo was selected. A 2013 graduate of Freeport High School, he is a sophomore media studies major at the University of Southern Maine.

“Making videos, taking pictures and being creative is more than just a career choice to me. It’s an extension of who I am,” he said. He has been running a small photo and video business since his junior year in high school. More information about Salisbury can be found at www.alecsalisburyphotovideo.com.

Gospel concert at First Baptist

The Northmen, from Fort Wayne, Ind., will present a gospel concert on Friday, Aug. 22, at 7 p.m., at the First Baptist Church of Freeport,185 Main St. Twenty-five years of music ministry have taken The Northmen to 36 states and six foreign countries. The group has just released its 25th anniversary collection of 23 songs.

An ice cream social will precede the concert at 6 p.m. The public is welcome. A freewill offering will be received.

Prescription drug take-back boxes installed

On Tuesday, Aug. 19, the Freeport, Cumberland and Yarmouth police departments, along with Casco Bay CAN, installed secure, permanent drug drop-off boxes. Residents of Freeport now can bring unwanted prescription drugs to the lobby of the police department. Casco Bay CAN is a grant-funded project that includes individuals, schools, law enforcement agencies, organizations and businesses working together to prevent and reduce youth substance abuse in Cumberland, Falmouth, Freeport, North Yarmouth, Pownal and Yarmouth.

Freeport Police Chief Gerald Schofield hosted the launch and was joined by other law enforcement representatives from Cumberland and Yarmouth to announce their newly installed medication drop-off boxes. Landis Hudson, executive director of Maine Rivers, and Delbert Arris, chairman of the Freeport Shellfish Conservation Commission, also spoke about the positive impact the drug boxes will have on the health of local waterways, fisheries and shellfish.

According to the Maine Office of Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services, more than one in 10 high school students reported misusing a prescription drug in their lifetime in Maine.

“Properly disposing of unwanted, expired or outdated drugs is everyone’s responsibility and helps keep youth and adults safe and our waterways clean,” said Casco Bay CAN Coordinator Beth Blakeman-Pohl. “Now, Casco Bay region residents will not have to wait for a semi-annual take-back day to clean out their medicine cabinets.”

Park begins new kids’ nature program

Wolfe’s Neck Woods State Park in Freeport is offering a new program to immerse young kids in nature. The new Preschool Nature Exploration program will provide a fun and interactive environment for kids ages 0-5 to explore and enjoy the state park with their caregivers. Activities will include a nature story reading, a fun craft and a short guided walk within the park. Themes will include forest ecology, insects, birds, the rocky shore, pond life and more.

“This program will encourage more youngsters to enjoy and appreciate nature and our parks. We get a lot of preschool visitors to our park each year, and we are excited to offer a new program designed just for them,” said Andy Hutchinson, Wolfe’s Neck Woods park manager.

The Preschool Nature Exploration is at 11 a.m. on Thursdays at Wolfe’s Neck Woods State Park through September. The program is free with park admission. For more information, call 865-4465 or see www.maine.gov/wolfesneckwoods.

Sept. 10 deadline for nomination papers

Nomination papers are now available in the Town Clerk’s Office for residents interested in seeking several elected positions available. Nomination papers are due back to the Town Clerk’s Office no later than 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 10. Three seats are available on the Town Council: at large, and districts 2 and 3. Two seats are available on the Regional School Unit 5 board, two on the sewer district board of trustees and one on the water district board of trustees.

For more information, call Freeport Town Clerk Tracey Stevens at 865-4743, Ext. 123 or email [email protected].

Rescheduled fireworks Aug. 30

A special fireworks display is scheduled for Saturday, Aug. 30, at 9 p.m., following the Brett Dennen concert at L.L. Bean Discovery Park. The July 4 fireworks were rescheduled due to weather conditions.

New beads featured

R.D. Allen Freeport Jewelers, 13 Middle St. in Freeport, welcomed the return of the American Bead Collection for a trunk show Aug. 16. The store reports that these local artisans are developing quite a following with their handcrafted charm beads made from local bedrock. The beads, which come in two sizes, are compatible with other charm bead brands and are all sterling silver. There are beads from the bedrock of all of New England, New York, Arizona, California and Pennsylvania, to name just a few. The American Bead Collection trunk shows are held at least three times a year, and the next one will be during Sparkle Weekend, Saturday, Dec. 6. For more information, see sss.rdallen.com.

Bean supper at Grange

A public baked bean supper will be held at the Harraseeket Grange Hall, 13 Elm St., Freeport on Saturday, Aug. 23, from 5-6 p.m. The all-you-can-eat menu includes three kinds of home-baked beans (pea, yellow-eye and red kidney), hot dogs, biscuits, brown bread, potato salad, pasta salad, cole slaw, homemade pies and beverages. Adults cost $8, children under 10 cost $4 and children 3 and under are free.

‘Star Wars’ movie night

Freeport Community Library will be hosting a “Star Wars” movie night on Thursday, Aug. 21, at 5:30 p.m. “The Return of the Jedi, Star Wars VI” will be shown. Tables will be set up for families who wish to bring a picnic supper. Costumes are encouraged.

Suspense writer to talk

Former Portland Press Herald sportswriter Paul Betit will give a talk on his series of mystery-suspense novels at the Freeport Community Library on Wednesday, Aug. 20, at 6:30 p.m. Betit’s crime novel series, which features U.S. Army CID investigator John Murphy, includes “Phu Bai,” “Kagnew Station” and the recently published “The Man In The Canal.” He will also share backstories and details on his writing process.

While serving as an intelligence analyst with the Army during the 1960s, Betit spent 16 months in Vietnam, the setting for “Phu Bai,” and nearly two years in Ethiopia, the backdrop for “Kagnew Station.” In the latest novel, Murphy goes undercover in Sweden during the summer of 1971 to find a murderer believed to be hiding among the group of American military deserters who took refuge in the Scandinavian country during the Vietnam War.

Signed copies of all three of Betit’s books will be available for purchase at the library the evening of Aug. 20. Additional information about Betit and his books, can be found at www.paulbetit.com.

Girls on the Run registration

Registration for the fall season of Girls on the Run, a program hosted by the Casco Bay YMCA, is now open. Girls on the Run is a transformational physical activity based positive youth development program for girls in third through fifth grade. Life skills are taught through interactive lessons and running games. The program culminates with the girls being physically and emotionally prepared to complete a celebratory 5Krunning event. The goal of the program is to unleash confidence through accomplishment while establishing a lifetime appreciation of health and fitness.

The team meets twice a week, on Tuesdays and Thursdays from, 4-5:30 p.m. for 10 weeks and will begin on Sept. 9. The program fee is $130 and financial assistance is available. For more information or to register, see http://girlsontherunmaine.org/.

Talk about books

Book lovers are invited to join a discussion group that meets at Freeport Community Library on the first Wednesday of each month at 6 p.m. The group meets in the library sunroom year round, and discussions typically last until 7:45 p.m. with light refreshments provided by group members. The upcoming book discussion for Wednesday, Sept. 3 is “The House of Sand and Fog,” by Andre Dubus III, a National Book Award finalist, Oprah Book Club Pick, New York Times bestseller and the basis for the Oscar-nominated film by the same title. The novel selected for Oct. 1 is “The Stone Diaries,” by Carol Shields. The selection for Nov. 5 is Jane Austen’s “Emma.”

GOP group meeting Aug. 20

The Freeport Republican Committee will meet Wednesday, Aug. 20, at 6:30 p.m., at the Masonic Lodge, Mallet Drive, lower level. Those who attend should bring gently used household items for the Masonic Lodge yard sale.

Farm offers history tour

Wolfe’s Neck Farm and its surrounding countryside can be explored in a new history tour taking place on Saturday, Aug. 23 and Saturday, Sept. 6, from 10-noon. On the wagon ride to the past, visitors will hear stories of the ship captains, fishermen, farmers, teachers, and homemakers who have lived on Wolfe’s Neck through the past 250 years. Many of the buildings and landscapes of Wolfe’s Neck Farm have remained largely unchanged for centuries. One of the stops on the tour, the historic Pote House, will soon have a documentary about its history.

Tours begin and end at the Red Barn. Advance reservations are strongly recommended; walk-ons will be accommodated if space is available. Tours will operate in fair weather with a minimum of six people. The cost is $6 adults and children 13 and older. Those 12 and under are free. Reserve tickets by calling 869-5433. For more information, see www.wolfesneckfarm.org.

Upcoming meetings

Freeport Conservation Commission, Wednesday, Aug. 20, 6 p.m., Freeport Community Center.

RSU 5 public hearing, withdrawal agreement, Tuesday, Aug. 26, 6:30 p.m., at the Freeport Community Center.

A full listing of upcoming town meetings and agendas is available on www.freeportmaine.com.

Alec SalisburyA photo by Alec Salisbury, a 2013 Freeport High School graduate, was selected to grace the cover of the fall edition of the RSU 5 Recreation & Community Education brochure.